Am a dog groomer that works for a shop, but I still had to buy my own equipment and I paid for school. How do I deduct school and my equipment I bought?

[ThomasM125]

If you are paid as a subcontractor, meaning your income is not reported to you on a W-2 form, you can enter your business income and expenses in the Self Employed Income and Expenses section of TurboTax, under Income and Expenses.

Your school expenses are only deductible if they are to maintain or improve your work skills, but not if they are necessary to prepare you for a new profession.

[s8powjas]

I believe I will get a W-2 but the situation is that I am paid commission, that they convert to hrly. But no tools for the job are provided. I paid for the tools, maintenance of the tool and the schooling to improve my skills and make sure I’m qualified for all breeds. I have commission sheets showing I get commission but also have paystubs showing that it’s paid hrly. 

[xmasbaby0]

When you say you work for a shop----are you a W-2 employee?   If you are a W-2 employee then you cannot deduct your supples or any other job-related expenses on your federal return although your state return might allow it.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4482873-which-federal-tax-deductions-have-been-suspended-by-tax-re...

If you are an independent contractor then your supplies etc go on a Schedule C since you are "self-employed"

As for school-----did you attend a school that issued a 1098T to you?  If you attended an accredited school you may be able to get an education credit.  

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901172-what-are-education-tax-credits

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901172-what-education-tax-credits-are-available   

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/am-i-eligible-to-claim-an-education-credit

[s8powjas]

Ok maybe we can take this a different way. My goal when getting into this profession is to start my own business. Now I am in the process of starting it, can school and my equipment be written off as startup cost? All this equipment is required to startup a grooming business. 

[Critter-3]

Ok ... no matter what the goal is ... for 2020 you were either an employee or a contractor. If you are an employee you cannot deduct anything.  

So these commission checks ... did they have taxes withheld or not ?   If they did you should get a W-2 and you are an employee.  I suggest asking the shop owner and stop the guessing.  Until you know how they are treating you tax wise you cannot complete a return.  

[Aron11]

As a dog groomer who works for a shop, you may be eligible to deduct certain expenses related to your work on your income tax return, including the cost of your equipment and the expenses associated with your education. To deduct the cost of your equipment, you can use the Section 179 deduction, which allows you to deduct the full cost of qualifying equipment and software that you purchase or finance during the tax year. Alternatively, you can depreciate the cost of your equipment over several years. To deduct the cost of your education, you may be able to use the Lifetime Learning Credit or the Tuition and Fees Deduction, depending on your specific situation. The Lifetime Learning Credit allows you to claim a credit of up to $2,000 for qualified education expenses, while the Tuition and Fees Deduction allows you to deduct up to $4,000 in qualified education expenses. To ensure that you are claiming all of the deductions and credits that you are eligible for, it may be helpful to consult with a tax professional or use tax preparation software to guide you through the process.